Because my husband insisted on watching The Empire Strikes Back last night 
I’ve realised I have a problem: I work too hard. I set myself too many goals and I beat myself up about it when I don’t meet them. My protracted case of writer’s block (which I’m now being honest enough to call it) hasn’t simply been down to stress from moving house, but down to me setting myself impossible goals.
So, since realising this I’ve been rethinking my approach to daily word goals. Last week I started off really well, with two days producing 2k (or just over). I should have felt happy with that, but I didn’t because I had set myself the goal of 3k a day. I’m convinced my subsequent nasty cold has been partly a result of that stress.
While lying in bed feeling sorry for myself and too ill to write, I got to thinking: what the hell is wrong with writing 2k a day? That’s 10k a week, which means I’d have the first draft of a novel in 6-8 weeks. What’s more, if I stop at a guilt-free 2k I have plenty of time to spend the rest of my day doing other things. Sometimes that might be writing related, but I also want to spend plenty of time gardening, sewing, and reading purely for pleasure.
So, that’s it. From now on my daily writing goal is 2k a day, weekdays in term times only. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I’m now really excited about getting back to work on my WIP. It helps that I’ve planned out the rest of the novel too! That’s another strategy: no more flying by the seat of my pants – my muse needs a bit more structure to work with now, especially as I’m starting to write more complex plots.
Real Life:
Daisy’s scooter broke last week so she now has a new, “big girl” scooter. Actually, it’s one of those ones that can take adult weight too, so I could always scoot down the hill after dropping her off at school. Haven’t quite plucked up the courage yet, though. I’ve always been a bit freaked out by freewheeling down hills when there’s cars at the bottom. Daisy has got the hang of it beautifully, though. Kids are so much more fearless than us adults!
This week:
This week I have the in-laws coming to stay for 4 nights. It’s the first time we’ve had people to stay in years, as our last two houses weren’t really suitable for putting people up. I’m a bit daunted by the loss of privacy for so long, but I’m just going to be taking myself out to work in cafés/library during the days. Wish me luck!
I’m going to be writing 2k a day on Screwing the System, and I even know what the content of that 10k is going to be. Go me! If I get any more done, it will be a bonus, but I’m not expecting to. Other than that, there will be Transatlantic Translations on Wednesday (possibly about Brit Art), Jacqueline Brocker will be guest blogging on Thursday, and there’ll be another Storm and Lightning on Friday. I haven’t decided on what I’ll be posting in the way of Vintage Smut Sunday – might have to find me some time to comb through some of my favourite Tumblrs for new pics. What a hardship!
Ooo! A scooter. Enjoy
And good luck with your new goals – and good for you for resetting them. Goals are like fire aren’t they? Good servant, bad master.
When I arrived at work every day, I somehow knew exactly what I was capable of that day – 4 experiments, or only 2, or perhaps (on really bad days) just ‘housekeeping’ jobs around the lab. I’d like to be able to do that with writing. Hell, I’d like to be able to set goals for writing. It’ll come.
You’re right. It’s important not to beat oneself up for what seem like shortcomings
“Good servant, bad master” – I like that way of thinking about goals. I’ll have to keep that in mind!
It’s definitely best to celebrate what we achieve rather than never being satisfied. You need a bit of something to keep you striving, but constant failure to meet your goals is demoralising.
The trouble with working from home, as your own boss to boot, is that you really have to work hard at giving yourself permission to have time off. And as you’ve discovered, you have to fill your well with happy things now and again to keep yourself going.
Good luck
Oh yes, filling the well with happy things – what a lovely way of putting it! I have a hard time giving myself time off, you’re right, but I know I write better when I’m feeling relaxed and fulfilled.
Thanks hon
We are our own harshest critics and bosses. Work-life balance, they keep talking about it here, not sure they enforce it, but the concept is good.
Kids are oblivious to what could happen, they just enjoy the moment. It’s good and bad. When I was about 12 I fell going down a hill on my bike on a gravel road. I still have scars on the back of my hands from that, so I’m needless to say not a fan of hills. Although in Ottawa, hills are few and far between in the city.
Hope your in-law visit goes well. I’m usually okay with guests, although the last few years it’s been just a friend and I’m at work all day so I just give them the key and say “see you later” which works for both of us.
I had a similar bicycle experience as a kid, Tam. Took me YEARS to get back on a bike again – it wasn’t until we’d moved onto the boat that I finally plucked up the courage – mainly because it was all on the flat!
So far it’s going all right with the in-laws. It’s good to have an excuse to go out all day, though! Daisy loved playing with her uncle after school yesterday, and I got some gardening done so that was nice
Good luck with it all
Thanks hon – it went well yesterday, as despite still having a headache I wrote 1.9k
Go you! 2k a day is a worthy goal. I’d be happy with it. Just remember, even when you’re not writing, the little gray cells in the background are. You get some of the best ideas when you’re not consciously thinking about writing.
I don’t have a protestant work ethic, just plain old guilt when I’m not writing. But there’s a good reason for it: I’m a huge procrastinator.
Oh, you’re definitely right! I get great ideas when I’m walking, washing up and gardening. Hanging out the laundry works too. I definitely need time to read more widely, though. There are books I’d love to write but I need to read around the subject a bit first. I have a pile of fascinating looking non-fiction books staring me in the face, but just haven’t made time to read them yet.
Oh my kid has a scooter and he LOVES it. He’s always wanting to ride it. I wish he wanted to ride his bike as much as he wants to ride his scooter.
I know the feeling about being too hard on yourself because that’s basically me all the time. My hubs is constantly after me to be happy with the stuff I did get done. 2K is probably a reasonable goal with all the other things that you do.
OH wow, good luck with the in-laws coming to stay, it’s always interesting when ppl invade your space even if they ARE family.
And good luck with the writing this week.
Thanks hon! Daisy would love to ride her bike too, but she seems to have outgrown it since last summer. Damn – another expense. Might have to look for a second hand one this time.
Being happy with what you do acheive is a precious thing. I felt so good yesterday after writing my (almost) 2k, despite still feeling a bit grotty from my cold. I’m hoping for a happy repeat today
LOL. I used to scoot home from school quite regularly. The number of time I nearly when arse over tit, although I always saved myself before I broke the pavement!
Hehe – knowing me I’d split my chin open again and need stitches. Maybe I’d best not risk it!
It’s good to figure out what’s up!
I think the scooter would terrify me, too. Eeep.
Yeah, figuring it out is the first step in solving the problem!
It does have a brake, but I really think I’d need to start on the level. Those things can go way too fast downhill. Maybe I’d best just stick to carrying it back down
2k is pretty good going to be honest. I only managed 1.5k of day job writing today once I’d finished the 6k of minor edits, and that was almost transcription rather than having to think stuff up.
Good luck with your new goals.
Thanks Stevie! And you’re right – 2k is good going. So is 6k of edits, so don’t beat yourself up about that!